Sprinkler



Jam. 3, 1933. p L ;PPERT 1,892,959

SPRINKLER Filed Jan. 28, 1929 A TTORNEY Patented dan. 3, 1933 PATENT @FFC V:PAUL LIPPERT, OF CHCAGO, ELL'INOS SPRINKLER Application led January 28, 1929. Serial No. 335,515.

'lhis invention relates to improvements in sprinklers and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

5 Sprinklers are employed in many industries for cooling, aerating and washing and have been in use for a long period of time for watering lawns. In large permanent installations for sprinkling lawns, certain types of sprinklers are set flush with the lawn surface and are connected to underground piping systems. Such sprinklers are either of the rotating or oscillating type or of the stationary type and in some instances the structure is such that the sprinkler head thereof, upon application of the water pressure, is elevated a distance above the lawn.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of sprinkler of the kind wherein the sprinkler head is first elevated and thereafter turns about an axis, under the act-ion of the pressure of the water employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a sprinkler of this kind a structure adapted for use in connection with either of two interchangeable nozzle members or caps, whereby the sprinkler may be readily changed from a continuously rotating one to an oscillating or rotary reciprocating one.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide a sprinkler structure wherein the bearing of rotation of the head is disposed closely adjacent the center of gravity thereof, so as to reduce friction and wear on the bearsurfaces so that the effective life of the sprinkler as a whole is greatly increased.

These objects of the invent-ion, as well as others., together' with the many advantages thereof will more fully appear as l proceed with my specification.

ln the drawing l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through my improved sprinkler, embodying that nozzle member 0r cap that CIJ makes the sprinkler an oscillating or rotary reciprocating one.

F ig. 2 is a top plan view of the sprinkler shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the nozzle member or cap employed in the structure shown in Figs. l and 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the sprinkler' head and supporting member or tube as an assembly when removed from the casing.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the noz.- zle member or cap that makes the sprinkler an oscillating one.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of another nozzle member or cap which is interchangeable with the first one to make the sprinkler a continuously rotating one.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a certain bearingblock employed in my improved sprinkler.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a certain valve element embodied in my improved sprinkler.

The invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied in a sprinkler especially adapted for lawn purposes, but as will be apparent. the invention may also be embodied in sprinklers for other purposes, where its peculiar characteristics makes it of advantage to do so.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 5 inclusive and 7 and 8 respectively of the accompanying drawing, l indicates as a whole the upright tubular casing of the sprinkler which comprises a tubular body 2, with a cup shape top end 3 having an outwardly extending radial flange 4;. At the liunction of the body and cup shaped top end is an interiorly threaded shoulder 5 the purpose of which will later appear. The bottom end of the body is interiorly threaded and when the sprinkler as a whole is in place in a lawn, said bottom end is engaged upon a lwatersupply pipe 6 and the flange 4 is disposed substantially flush with the turf of the lawn.

' one pair ci' slots vdisposed in a plane at a right angle to the other pairvofslots, both pairs of slots opening through the bottom end of the guide tube 8.

Slidable in the guide tube is a water supply tubefor .conduit v12, the top end of whichnor-v mally extends above the nut 9 and is there i fixed to the bottom wall of a sprinkler head member 13 thatincludes an upwardly and outwardly curved wall'orrim 14. Secured to the bottom wall of the head member 13 is a,

bearing block 15 best shown in perspective in rFig. 7. Said block includes Vsupperting sleeves 16-16 and a web 17 in which isv formed va ybearing opening and seat 18. Screwsp19 extend down `through said. sup# porting sleevesv into the bottom wall of the head to secure `the block in position with its bearing opening disposed axially of the water tube orconduit 12. In the extreme bottom vend of thetube isan axially apertured plug 20 and above said plug said tube is provided witha plurality of water inlet openings 21 of substantial diameter. In the outer periphery of said tube above the inlet openings 21 is provided al plurality of water ways 22 inthe form of annular grooves as best shown in Fig. l. c

Disposed axially in the water tube 12 is a guide rod or stem 23 and on the top end thereof above the bearing block 15 is a disc 24 having an upstanding stop arm 25. rlhe plug 20 before mentioned, is 'tree to slide longitudinally' and to rotate about said rod erstem l23. To the bottom end ot the rod is secured across bar 26 the ends of which extend into the guide groove 10 in the tube 8 wherel'iy the rod is held against rotation. Loose von the rod, just below the disc '24 is a bearing memn ber 27 in the 'form oli' a part ot a sphere that bears upon the seat 18 of the bearing block 15. p v K l '28 indicates a nozzle member or cap Vwhichy includes a top wall 29 and an vannular depending flange 30 having'a rabbet groove therein to receive the free edge of the wall lil of the head 1,3 with a good snug but detachable lit, the cap being secured to the head by means of screws28x-28x, best shown in Fig". 2. The top wall of said capo-verhangs and normally kengages upon the flange Ll oie the casing to 'provide a closure for the cup like top end lar.

ci the casing and on the underside of the cap is'a pair ot substantially opposite lugs or blocks 31 and 32 respectively. Each block has a nozzle opening 33-34 therein both ot which are disposed in thesaine direction and at an angle ofabout 15" to the perpendicu-- The nozzle'opening 33 is of a diameter greater than that ol' the nozzle opening 3a and one endet each nozzle opens through the top wall of the cap while the other end opens through its associated block byl means ot a spherical seat 35 asbest shown in Fig. 5.

36 indicates a lbell crank like valve lever best shown in F ig. 8. Said lever includes a long arm 37 and a shorter arm 38 disposed at a relatively obtuse angle and the junction of said arms is formed to provide a sleeve 39. Passing through this sleeveis a pivot pin l0 lthreaded-nite the top wall of the cap, oli

center with respect thereto. On the free end ot each arm is a'spheri'c boss 37e-33a: respectively adapted for engagement upon the seat 35 of the associated nozzle openings 33 and v34 respectively. n this 'respect it is pointedout that the longer arm 37 is asso'- ciated with the nozzle opening 33 of larger diameter and the shorter arm is associated with thenozzle openingl 34 of smaller diaineter.

In operation, assume that `the sprinkler as a whole is embedded ink a lawn" and is attached toa water supply pipe 6. -Wfhen the 'water is turned on, it enters the tubular body and'passes through the slots 11 and openings 21 into the interior'of the supply tube 12. lt is pointed outv at this time, that said openings 21 are so many in numberv and are so disposedabont-the tube 12 that no matter in what position said tube stops, certain of said openings will be in communication with either the guide slots 10 or water inlet slots 11 respectively. Thus so soon as water enters the tubular casing l, its entrance into the ktube 12 is assured for actuating the sprinkler in the manner intended. The water passes upwardly in this tube to emerge from the top end thereof into thespace or chamber between the head 13 and cap 28 and the pressure builds up therein. Due to this pressure, the first action to take place is that the head and cap are elevated into a. position above the top end oi the casingas. shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1', this'- movement being limited bv the engagement of the cross bar 26 with the top ends of the slots 10.

In this upward movement of the head and cap, the. inlet tube 120i course is also elevated Yas well as the `guide rod 23, 'the latter soY being incapable ci rotation due to the en# lso that this seepage is materially retardedv 'or restricted due to the sealing like action of said grooves. y

l/Vith the arms 37-88 of the lever 36 of unequal lengths and disposed at the obtuse angle mentioned', it-is apparent that an unbalanced condition exists between said arms and as the water issues from the larger nozzle opening, it acts upon the longer arm to swin the lever in a direction closing off the smaller nozzle opening. As the lever 36 moves through but a small angle and the arms thereof are always in close proximity to the seats 35 at the inner ends of the nozzle openings 33-34 so that the closing of the smaller nozzle is almost instantaneous. The larger nozzle opening now being unobstructed, a jet of water willissuetherefrom and the reaction of such jet causes the head and cap to rotate about the bearing member 27, the water tube l2 of course turning therewith. In the rotation of the vcap and head as described, the short arm of the lever will engage the stop member 25 and will be swung in a reverse direction thereby, to cause the nozzle opening 34 to be opened and the nozzle opening to be closed.

Tater then issues from the opening 34 as a jet and the reaction thereof causes the cap, head and water inlet tube to be turned in the oppositev direction until the long arm 37 engages'said stop 25, when direction is once again reversed, so that an oscillatory or rotary reciprocatory movement of the cap and head takes place through an angle of approximately 180. By means of such a` construction the sprinkling action can be regrlated so far as certain limits or boundaries are concerned as when defined by sidewalks,

Y buildings, runways and the like.

Thus with the water issuing in jet form, a high rotative speed is imparted to the head and cap and the jets throughout their range or spread are broken up in droplets which closely simulates a rain shower. Thus a satisfactory result so far as sprinkling a lawn is concerned, is attained.

By reason of the bearing plug in th-e bottom end of the tube, it is apparent that with the head and cap in an elevated position, the water pressure is exerted upon both ends of the plug in substantially the same proportions so that both interior and exterior pressure approximately balance, thereby reducing the upward pressure on the point of bearing of the head and cap. Assume that the water has been shut off from the sprinkler and that the head has ceased oscillation in such a position that both valves on the ends of the lever arms are open with respect to their associated nozzle openings. Assume that water is again turned on. Immediately upon issuance of fluid from both nozzle openings in the head, different reactions are obtained by reason of th-e difference in areas of the nozzles. Since the larger nozzle will have the greater reaction and before suihcient reaction has developed to turn the nozzle head proper, enough difference in reaction acting on the faces of the valves at the ends of the lever arms occurs to swing the longer arm away from its nozzle opening. This will cause the smaller arm to swing towards its nozzle opening to close the same thereby making available the maximum starting torque with which to start rotation of the sprinkler head proper. Thus no mattei' -whether the sprinkler has stopped in a position wherein both nozzles are open or only one of them is open, the initial movement to operate the valve into such a position that will produce the torque necessary to start the head is attained.

In Fig. 6 T have illustrated another cap member which is interchangeable with the first mentioned cap, when a continuously rotating instead of an oscillating sprinkler is desired. 'The cap 28a is provided on its under side with integral nozzle opening blocks or lugs 31a-32a disposed diametrically opposite each other and each block is provided with nozzle openings 33a and 84 respectively of equal diameters but facing in the opposite directions. To substitute the cap 28 for the cap 28, it is only necessary to take out the screws 28X and remove the cap 2S and then apply the cap 28a in its stead, after which the screws 28x are replaced to secure the cap 28 to the head.

TVith such a cap in place and with the water turned on pressure builds up in the chamber between the head and cap and first elevates the same and the water will then issue from the nozzle openings. As these openings are faced in opposite directions, the reaction is such as to rotate the head and cap continuously in one direction about the tube or stem l2 and bearing 27 as an axis'. As there are no valve arms employed in connection with the cap, it is apparent that the stop 25remains inactive, ready for operation for its intended purpose, when the caps are again changed as for instance when an oscillatin tjpe of sprinkler is desired.

lt is pointed out that all water passage openings are of substantially large diameter, permit free How and discharge of all such t gri s the water may contain. lith the sealing grooves 22 as before described, the grit is prevented from passing up between the tubes 8 and 12 with the result that the grit cannot produce excessive wear between the tubes. Again such large particles as cannot `pass through the ports or openings 21 are brushed ofi by the rotation of the tube so that the same cannot be clogged up.

TVith the Center of gravity of the head, disposed in as close proximity to the top bearing as circumstances permit, it is apparent that the head and cap will rotate without tendency to wabble and thus the life of the bearing Cil surfaces lgreatly ,prolonged as there-is no asrmay be" specifically set forth in theapf `portin lmeans in which said conduit is bothV pended claims.

I claim as my invention: I

' l. A sprinkler embodying therein asprinkier hea-cha vconduit fixed to said head for supplying fluidl thereto under pressure, a sup- 7 rotatively as well as longitudinally mounted,

a ynozzle.mem-ber associated with the head, a member disposed axially of the head and movable longitudinally therewith and a bear- Vingelement on said last mentioned member engaged sby said hea-d, said last mentioned member including` Vparts operable to engage with said supporting means in a manner limiting the longitudinal movement of said head. y y

2. A sprinkler embodying therein a sprinkler head, means-for supporting said head for aturn-ingmovement, a conduit for supplying fluid under pressure to said head, a nozzle member associated with the head, a member disposed axially-of the head and movable longitudinally therewith, a bearing element loose on Ithe top end of .said vmember and engaged by said head and a cross bar .earried on the bottom end of said member/and so engaged ywith the supporting means as to limit the longitudinal movement of the head in one direction.

3. A sprinkler embodying th-erein a sprinkler head, means for supporting .said head for a vturning movement, aconduit for supplying i'i'uid under'pressure to said head, a nozzle member mounted onfsaid head and having nozzle openings therein, means pivoted on said nozzle member for an oscillatory movement and including unbalanced arms operated upon by water issuing from the nozzle openings to open and close said nozzle openings and a non-rotative element adapted to be alternately engaged by said arms of said pivoted means to cause the same to open one nozzleand close the other and viceversa in the turning movement of the head and nozzle member. l

a. A sprinkler embodying therein a sprinkler head, means for supporting said head for a turning movement, a conduit for supplying fiuid under pressure to said head, a nozzle member mounted on said head and having nozzle openings therein facing in the same direction, an unbalanced lever pivoted on said member, and including rigidly connected together arms, oneassociated with each nozzle opening and a non-rotative member disposed in said head and adaptedv to be -alternately engaged by said arms to fopen; one

nozzle opening and to close the other.

5. A sprinkler embodying therein asprinkler head, means for supporting said head for a turning movement, la conduit for supplying yfluid under `pressure to said head, nozzle member mounted on the head and having nozzle openings therein facing in the lsaiiie direction and, the one being lof a diameter greater than the other, a two armed leverpivoted on saidv nozzle member and havingyone nozzle opening and a non-rotative element arranged in said head and adapted to be env gaged byk said arms to cause said arms to alternately close and open the associated nozzle opening.

.6. A sprinkler embodying thereina sprinller head, a nozzle member associated with said head, a tube upon the top endv of which said head is mounted, said tube being closed at its bottom end but' having water inlets therein above said bottom end, a second tube -in'which the first tube has bearing,'a guide rod disposed axially in the' first mentioned tube and extending through the closedlbotytom end thereof, a bearing member on :the

.top end of said rod engaged by said head,

anda cross bar in the bottom end of said rod and engaged with said second tube ina manner holding the rod against rotation.- Y 7. A sprinkler embodying therein asprinller head, a nozzle member associated therewith, a tube upon one end of which said head ismounted and closed at its other end but having fluid inlets in its sides, a second tube in which the'lirst tube is journalled, said second tube having twov sets of slots` therein'and through' one of which sets fluid is admitted toy the fluid inlets of the first tube, a rod disposed axiallyv in said first tube, a bearing member on one end thereof and engaged by said head and a cross bar on the other end of said rod and engaged in one of said sets of slots `in said second tube. Y

8. In a sprinkler, a nozzle member having nozzle openings therein facing in the same direction and an oscillat'able lever pivoted off center of said member and having rigidly VConnected together arms ofl unequal length, one associated with each nozzle opening, each arm having means thereon operating in the oscillation of the lever to close andopeii its associated nozzle opening.

9. A sprinkler embodying therein a sprinkler head, means'for supporting said head for a turning movement, a conduit for supplying a Huid to said head, which headis formed and adapted to receive either of two members, each having nozzles, the nozzles'of one head being operative under the action of fluid jets discharged therefrom to produce 

